"Monkey Bar" Diorama, Made by Prisoner Patrick J. Culhane and Presented to Henry Ford, 1914-1915

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THF49084 / "Monkey Bar" Diorama, Made by Prisoner Patrick J. Culhane and Presented to Henry Ford, 1914-1915
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Artifact Overview

In 1915, Patrick J. Culhane, an inmate at the Massachusetts State Prison, presented this diorama to Henry Ford. Culhane depicted monkeys engaging in activities he believed lead to the downfall of many prisoners, such as gambling and drinking alcohol. Ford, interested in the man who produced this elaborate work, probably secured Culhane's release and gave him a job at the Ford assembly plant in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Diorama

Date Made

1914-1915

Creators

Place of Creation

Creator Notes

Made by Patrick J. Culhane as a prisoner at Charlestown State Prison.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

15.1.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Patrick J. Culhane.

Material

Peach pit
Wood (Plant material)
Nitrocellulose
Paper (Fiber product)
Tin (Metal)
Lead (Metal)
Glass (Material)

Technique

Handmade
Inlay (Process)
Woodcarving

Color

Brown

Dimensions

Height: 11.875 in
Width: 16.125 in
Length: 20.25 in

Inscriptions

Printed on card mounted at back of case: PRESENTED TO MR. FORD AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION AND ESTEEM FOR HIS BENEVOLENT AND MAGNANIMOUS ACTS TOWARD, AND KEEN INTEREST IN PRISONERS. BY A PRISONER
Keywords
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